Constructing b



(No Model.)

J'. BURNS.

GONISTRVUGTING'BIEITON ORARTIFIGIALSTONB '(JUBBING. No. 259,812.

Patented June 20,- 1882,

INVENTOR l air/ma WITNESSES:

' AfTbRNEYS.

' N. PETERS. mmwumo m nen Washingmm n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BURNS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

CO'NSTRUCTING' BETON OR ARTIFICIAL-STONE CURBING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,812, dated June 20, 1882.

- Applicatioufiled April 21, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES BURNS, of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oonstrnctin g Bton or Artificial-Stone Curbing, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of bton or artificial-stone curbing; and it consists in a method of constructingsuch curbing in the trench in which it is required to be laid; and it further consists in molds for accomplishin g such result with accuracy and dispatch.

Reference is to be had-to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both thefigures.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a mold for constructing artificial-stone curbing in the trench, made in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section of the same on the line a: min Fig. 1.

In the drawings, A A indicate the sides of the mold, arranged at a suitable distance apart in the trench to form the curbing, and of any desired height. Said sides are constructed of planks, and may be of any convenient length-- say thirty feet, more or less.

Battens B B are bolted on or otherwise fastened at proper distances apart to the sides A A of the mold. The inside surfaces of the sides A A are arranged to incline from a vertical posflion to give the curbing its proper shape, as shown in Fig. 2, and are let into the battens B B, so as to be flush with the inner surfaces thereof. The battens B on one side of the mold are straight or upright on their outer sides, as at b, so that by plumbing said sides a uniform batter is obtained on the work. By means of a straight-edge, G, and spirit-level placed on top of the battens B B, when the mold is set .the operator is enabled to gradeor level the same.

Bottom-clamps D may be used under each pair of opposite bat-tens B B to hold the mold from spreading at the bottom, as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 1 and by full lines in Fig. 2; or, instead of these clamps applied to the bottoms of the battens, iron stakes E, passing through eyebolts F, secured to the sides of the mold, may be driven into the ground on the outsides of the mold to hold it in line and position and prevent it spreading when the bton isrammed in. These stakes may be at a distance of eight feet apart (more or less) along each side of the mold, and. the battens B B- at a somewhat similar distance apart from each other.

Elevating or adjusting rods G, having a screw-thread on them and passing through eyes H on the outsides of the molds, one of which for each rod is screw-threaded, may also be used, so that by resting the mold on the adjusting rods when placed in position the mold can be readily raised or lowered by sim ply turning the rods G.

A notched or slotted iron clamp, I, pivoted to the battens B on one side of the mold and engaging with a stop or keeper, d, on the opposite 7o batten on the other side of the mold, serves to hold the upper portions of the mold in position when rammingin the bton; or,insteadofthese metal clamps I,wooden clamps 1 maybe applied to the opposite upper edges of the sides A A and the-same be secured by the wedges d. The mold being in position and properly secured, the bton or artificial stone, which may consist of cement, sand, and broken stone or gravel, is rammed into the mold in the trench; and after a section of curbing corresponding .with'the dimensions of the mold has been fin-' ished the clamps D or stakes E and clamps I or I are removed or relieved without of necessity waiting for the setting of the cement, 8 and the same mold is utilized for making a continuous section. With three of such moldsections the work can be executed continuously and very rapidly.

Artificial-stone curbing thus manufactured o inthe trench may be produced much cheaper and more rapidly than when made away therefrom, as it saves the time necessary for hardening the curbing in order to handle it before it can be placed in position, and also saves the 5 labor and cost of setting the curbing. It can be made, too, in longer pieces, is not subject to settle or fall out of line, and when a cemented sidewalk is made in connection with the curbing it adds materially to the beauty I00 or-finish of the work; nor is it necessary to keep a stock ofmanufactured ourbin g on hand.

I am aware that it is not new to build walls of artificial stone or fences of sod or stone in knockdown molds, or to make the lower part of mold detachable and transferable to 5 the top as the work progresses; but

at top, at the sides by bolts and eyes E F, and made movable vertically by screw-bolts Gr, 10 working in eyes H, as and for the purpose specified.

JAMES BURNS. Witnesses:

GEo. W. CALDWELL, HENRY LAAGER. 

